The Kantorei Barmen-Gemarke (= KBG) was createdin 1946 as choir of the Evangelist-reformed Gemeinden Barmen-Gemarke in Wuppertal by Helmut Kahlhöfer, who led from then until to 1987. KMD Helmut Kahlhöfer was leter appointed as Professur for choir directing at the Folkwang-Hochschule in Essen. After the restructuring of the Evangelist Gemeinden in the quarter Oberbarmen those originally created Church Choir changed itself into the Kantorei Barmen-Gemarke e.V.

After Kahlhöfer’s death in 1988, KMD Manfred Schreier from Stuttgart was appointed as the choir professor and its artistic conductor. Schreier had a training job beside his duty as Professur at the College for Music of Trossingen. In 1993 he went back to Stuttgart completely for vocational reasons. The Kantorei selected Wolfgang Kläsener to his successor.

To the 50th year of existence appeared in 1996 an anniversary publication with contributions of Professor Hartmut Schmidt, Professor Martin Blindow, Professor Manfred Schreier, GMD Dr. Peter Güelke among others.

The concert programs cover all important works of the choir literature. The Kantorei dedicates itself also to new compositions of church choir music. At each 2nd Sunday of a month it gives Cantata-service (10,00 o'clock) in the Immanuelskirche.

Orchesterakademie an der Immanuelskirche (The Academy Orchestra of the Immanuels Church) was founded in 1988. Young professional musicians from the region are engaged for the programs and to compile together with the choir the respective literature.